Where did those affected by the disaster go?

It is difficult to determine exactly how many people evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture as those who took shelter with friends or relatives were unlikely to change their primary residential address.  However, it is possible to get a general overall picture of the situation as of August 2011 based on the population of Fukushima recorded in the National Census on October 1, 2011.

Evacuation within the Fukushima Prefecture:

Evacuees outside Fukushima Prefecture and their accommodation types:

 The map breaks the evacuation into four types; temporary housing ie. evacuation centres, hotels/inns, friends/family and those in temporary housing, private housing and hospitals.

The maps above give an overall picture as to the movement of those forced to evacuate from their homes but 'zooming in' to individual cases allows for a better understanding of the complexities involved.